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This follows the American Marketing Association’s Oklahoma City chapter renaming its Lifetime Achievement Award after Smith, a professor of marketing and MBA advisor in Oklahoma Christian’s School of Business Administration. He received the organization’s only lifetime achievement award in 2008.

These awards reflect Smith’s servant leadership approach to his field and his commitment to helping his community. In 2011, Smith served as auctioneer (another of his many talents) to help raise more than $150,000 for injured Oklahoma City police officer Chad Peery, a father of four facing significant medical bills.

OC MBA alumna Dee Patty, a former student of Smith’s who works for the police department, organized the “Taking Care of Our Own” benefit event.

“I remember Dr. Burt being so enthusiastic and excited about his work at OC that I looked more into the work he did outside the school. It was there I discovered he was also an auctioneer and worked some of the benefit auctions put on by actor Mark Harmon. I knew we needed to have him for our auction,” Patty said.

Patty has since been asked to be a consultant by other officers wishing to put fundraising events together for Officer Peery and other first responders injured in the line of duty in the metro area. She also has taken the “Taking Care of Our Own” name further to make it a nonprofit organization to continue to raise funds for first responders injured in the line of duty.

According to Smith, when people meet Chad, they are impressed with what an upbeat spirit he has despite what has happened.

“His ability to inspire has not been exaggerated,” Smith said. “I only visited with him for a little while because he had tons of folks lined up who wanted to thank him. In the short time I spent with him, I was impressed with what a powerful human being he is.”

Smith said he was also very proud of how his former student used her leadership and organizational skills to help make the event such a success.

“People have no idea how much planning, detail and just plain hard work goes into an event like this,” Smith said. “Dee and her team can take great pride in the way they orchestrated this event. It really was something to behold.”

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The musical is based on the friendship between Peter and Jesus as told in the Bible.

The show will be staged in Hardeman Auditorium on the OC campus. Performances will be Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

In its 14th year of touring, this mix of original acoustic music and storytelling has entertained audiences from Tampa to Dallas to New York City. The cast of 11 acts, sings and plays instruments during the production, which includes eight songs.

This year’s performances are the second time the cast has come to Oklahoma Christian; the musical also hit the Hardeman stage in 2009. The positive reception three years ago factored into finance professor Jody Jones’ decision to invite the cast back.

“We heard so many good comments after that first visit that we knew we wanted to bring them back,” Jones said. “Many who come to the show have seen it sometime before in its 14-year run. They like it so much that they want to see it again.”

A portion of the proceeds from the shows will help fund travel costs for a conference in New York City for students from OC’s School of Business Administration. OC’s theater honor society, Alpha Psi Omega, and Giving Tree Theatre also will benefit from money raised by the performances. As a fundraising event, Jones knew “The Rock and The Rabbi” was a great fit for OC.

“This is the most compelling way I’ve ever heard the story of Peter and Jesus told,” Jones said. “Plus, the message of the show really matches the mission of OC.”

The “Rock & The Rabbi” was written by the team of Danny Hamilton and Gary Richardson. Hamilton’s intent when writing the show was to create a unique approach to the greatest story ever told.

“We wanted to make the show very understandable and engaging for modern times,” he said. “We wanted to tell it in a common language, and we’ve been pleasantly surprised by how many audience members tell us they have to come back and share it with a friend.”

Tickets are on sale at www.oc.edu/rabbi for $15-$25 and can be picked up at the OC Box Office. For groups of 20 or more, call (405) 425-5590.

Oklahoma Christian, recognized as one of the best universities in the western United States by U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review, offers undergraduate programs in more than 60 fields of study and an undergraduate Honors Program in addition to its graduate programs. 

In addition to its Oklahoma City campus, OC has study abroad opportunities in Europe, Honduras and the Pacific Rim. This year, the university opened a Learning Support Center in Kigali, Rwanda, allowing Rwandan students to study in OC's online MBA program.

Another OC squad placed third in the regional competition, which featured 20 teams from three states and included schools such as Southern Methodist University, the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, Cameron University, Oklahoma City University, the University of Central Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma.

The regional championship qualifies Oklahoma Christian for the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl on Feb. 28 in San Antonio.

OC’s first-place team consisted of Christian Asbill, Chas Carter and Austin Hughes. OC’s third-place team members were Hannah Ketring, Brandon McWaters and Genesis Rodriguez. 

Students from both OC teams will combine into one squad for February’s competition, which features 32 teams from around the United States and Canada.

“These students put in countless hours and worked together to get each other prepared for this tournament,” said sponsor Dr. Jeff Simmons, associate professor of business at Oklahoma Christian. “I am so impressed with their talent and am proud of the way they conducted themselves with grace and humility in their success. We are looking forward to representing OC at the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.”

The Association for Practical and Professional Ethics organizes the 10 regional contests and the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.

Each contest includes a set of cases that raise issues in practical and professional ethics. Teams prepare analyses of each case before the contest, then answer questions from a moderator in multiple rounds of competition at the event.

Questions may concern ethical problems on wide ranging topics, such as the classroom (e.g. cheating or plagiarism), personal relationships (e.g. dating or friendship), professional ethics (e.g. engineering, law, medicine), or social and political ethics (e.g. free speech, gun control, etc.).

For more information, go to http://appeonline.com/ethics-bowl.

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The Russian delegation toured OC as part of the Edmond Sister Cities Program, which Oklahoma Christian helped found.

President deSteiguer presented the students with certificates of accomplishment for participating in the educational portion of the Edmond Sister Cities Program.

The delegation also went to OC’s theatre production of “Barefoot in the Park” and visited a biology class taught by Dr. Eric Phelps, a music class taught by Dr. Kyle Pullen, and an international management class taught by Dr. Don Drew.

Drew, OC’s associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of graduate schools, was one of eight community leaders who went to Russia as part of Edmond’s first delegation to Engels in June.

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The special ceremonies were part of OC’s annual Homecoming weekend. The honorees were:

College of Arts and Sciences

Scott Filleman (05) - Music
Amanda Gauthier (11) - Nursing
Jennifer Hill (94) - Psychology and Family Studies
Russell Hill (93) - History and Political Science
Lisa Landrum (89) - Biological Sciences
Dana McMichael (83) - Language and Literature
Brian Simmons (87) - Communication
Roy Stevens (79) - Chemistry and Physics
Megan Wilkes (09) - Art and Design

College of Biblical Studies

Chris Stinnett (87) - Alumnus of the Year
Jeremie Beller (00) - Preaching/Ministry
David Duncan (88) - Missions
Josh Yaeger (04) - Youth Ministry 

College of Professional Studies

Jeff Dimick (83) - Mathematical, Computer, and Information Science
Jeremy Edwards (97) - Business Administration
Ben Knowles (00) - Mechanical Engineering
Tessa Tefertiller (95) - Teacher Education
Mitch Warren (05) - Electrical and Computer Engineering

Another OC team placed third in the contest, which featured 16 teams from 10 universities across the state.

OC’s winning team, the Aguilas, won all of its matches while its other team, the Eagles, went undefeated with one tie against a squad from the University of Oklahoma.

Both Oklahoma Christian teams advance to the Regional Ethics Bowl on Nov. 17 in San Antonio, with a chance to move on to the National Ethics Bowl in Cincinnati.

“It gives one confidence in the future when you consider that students from across our state are spending time considering the ethics involved with various situations,” said Dr. Jeff Simmons, an associate professor of business at Oklahoma Christian who coaches OC’s ethics teams. “I am proud to be able to work at OC where we have some of the best students you’ll find anywhere.”

The Statewide Student Ethics Challenge is sponsored by the Oklahoma Business Ethics Foundation, which supports initiatives promoting ethical behavior on campuses throughout the state.

The schools in the competition were OC, OU, Cameron University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma State University, Southern Nazarene University, the University of Central Oklahoma, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, and the University of Tulsa.

The members of OC’s Aguilas team were Hannah Ketring, a junior English major from Flanagan, Ill.; Brandon McWaters, a senior history/pre-law major from Ponchatoula, La.; and Genesis Rodriguez, a senior political science major from San Antonio, Texas.

OC’s Eagles team members were Christian Asbill, a junior political science major from Grapevine, Texas; Chas Carter, a sophomore English/pre-law major from Allen, Texas; and Austin Hughes, a junior management major from Tuttle, Okla.

The contest cases covered a variety of topics, including employer response to employees’ personal social media sites, graffiti as free speech, student loan policy in a struggling economy, open-source citations in professor and student research, and the Family Medical Leave Act.

OC’s next ethics-focused activity is the sixth-annual J.J. Millican Ethics Symposium on Nov. 13. Former NFL and NCAA football coach Gene Stallings will be the keynote speaker for the on-campus event. More information is available at www.oc.edu/stallings.

Stallings led the University of Alabama to the 1992 national championship and also served as head coach at Texas A&M University and for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals. He was a longtime assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys under head coach Tom Landry.

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School of Business Administration alumnus Shawn Gieger has been promoted to Partner at the Oklahoma City Ernst & Young office. 

OC is networking:

In September, the Department of Accounting and Finance hosted the following firms for luncheon sessions with OC students:

• BKD
• Ernst & Young
• Hogan Taylor
• Eide Baily
• Devon

On Sept. 20-21, the School of Business Administration hosted the Oklahoma Accountancy Board for its September meeting. The events began with a reception on Thursday evening, and concluded with a meeting on Friday. OC accounting students and faculty attended both events.

OC is well read:

On September 14, Dr. Rhonda Morris and student Allison Becker presented a “Table Talk” at the Oklahoma Reading Association Conference: “Bringing Reading into the Digital Age.”

“I am pleased to appoint Don to this important board,” Miller said in a news release. “With his history of philanthropic work in the Tulsa area, I know Don will help the board in fulfilling its mission.”

Millican is Chief Financial Officer at Kaiser-Francis Oil Company in Tulsa. He serves on the boards of Tulsa Educare, Inc., which provides early education for at-risk children, and Neighbor for Neighbor, which operates a free health clinic in North Tulsa.

He has chaired OC’s Board of Trustees since 2001. He and his wife Donna established an endowment at Oklahoma Christian that supports an annual ethics symposium at the university.

He previously served on the board of the Community Action Project of Tulsa County, which works to break the cycle of poverty through early childhood education.

Millican will serve a seven-year term, expiring in July 2019. The constitution requires the composition of the board of directors be balanced by political party and by congressional district. Millican is a Republican and resident of the First Congressional District.

“I look forward to serving the state in the effort to reduce tobacco consumption and to improve the overall health of our citizens,” Millican said.

Created by constitutional amendment in 2000, the seven-member board of directors is responsible for directing the earnings from the endowment trust to fund programs to improve the health and well-being of all Oklahomans.

Management of the fund is overseen by a board of investors chaired by Miller, who also is an associate professor of business at Oklahoma Christian.

Since inception, almost $118 million in earnings have been certified for use by the board of directors. More than $36 million in earnings were certified last year. The fund has a balance of more than $710 million.

Dr. Ken Miller, who serves as Oklahoma's state treasurer in addition to his role as associate professor of business at Oklahoma Christian University, announced a sweepstakes to help students save for college.

At an event at Capitol Hill Elementary in Oklahoma City, Miller helped kick off the Think Big! Save for College! Sweepstakes, a partnership between the Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan and the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.

“The sweepstakes reminds families about the importance of saving now for a child's college education,” Miller said in an article by The Oklahoman.

The sweepstakes will award $2,529 for an Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan account to two Summer Reading Program participants. One winner will be selected from the children's program and one from the teen program, according to The Oklahoman. Entries can be submitted online at www.ok4saving.org/news/reading.shtml.

Parents with students applying to Oklahoma Christian can go to www.ok4saving.org to set up/contribute to an OK 529 account. When a parent is ready to withdraw funds for their child’s expenses, they simply designate OC as the university they wish to have the funds sent to. 

OC also is part of a consortium of schools that offers a pre-paid 529 plan (http://www.oc.edu/services/financial/the-private-college-529-college-savings-plan.html).

The latest step in Oklahoma Christian's commitment to make college affordable was its recent announcement that the university will eliminate all student fees and will not raise students’ total costs for tuition, room and board for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Oklahoma Christian also will expand its block pricing to 17 hours per semester (up from 15).

Tuition for most students taking 12 to 17 hours will be $18,800 per year. Total charges for the typical OC student, including room and board, will be $24,975.

That price is far below the national private-school average of $38,589, and is further reduced by financial aid that makes OC’s nationally-recognized education competitive with many state-supported institutions.

For more information about OC's new pricing structure, go to www.oc.edu/value.

Debra Diepenbrock will participate in a prominent summer academy in computer science and engineering at the University of Washington. The academy is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Oracle and Google, among other donors. Diepenbrock, from Moundridge, Ks., is hearing impaired and majoring in mechanical engineering.

Hansen, a second-year student majoring in international business, is fluent in Thai language and culture and excels in the university fellows program as an honors student.

"Riley has added so much to our programs, classes and our campus," said honors director Scott LaMascus. "The greatest joy of his selection to study at Oxford is that Riley has such an open, global perspective as a Christian who will, I know, make an increasingly large impact everywhere he goes. He's just a great young man."

The Scholars Semester in Oxford is offered by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. The competitive program is for Christian students who seek to read, learn and live in the "City of Dreaming Spires." The Scholars' Semester allows students to live in Wycliffe Hall as a visiting student of Oxford University. Students engage in intensive scholarship with the Oxford tutorial system.

The UW Summer Academy for Advancing Deaf & Hard of Hearing in Computing selects the best candidates from universities across the nation to come together with faculty for credit-bearing courses with guest speakers and field trips to Microsoft, Cray, Adobe and IBM corporate centers. Students and faculty also meet with deaf or hard-of-hearing employees in computer science and engineering.

"The Honors program is so proud to have Diepenbrock in our living/learning community, where she is making a real impact on the Honors Class of 2015," said LaMascus. "She is a student who has shown the capacity to excel, and whose aspirations to serve others encompasses her dreams of making an impact in pediatric oncology or biomedical engineering. This ethic of service grows from her deep faith in Christ."

Diepenbrock’s mother, Julie Sheerer Diepenbrock, is a 1986 OC graduate.

“The Choctaw Nation’s Scholarship Advisement Program is honored to add Oklahoma Christian University as a partner in our growing list of outstanding universities. This partnership provides great opportunities for Choctaw Students seeking a graduate business degree,” adds Jo McDaniel, Director of the Choctaw Nation Scholarship Advisement Program.

Johnson anticipates that most if not all of the Choctaw students will complete the MBA program online. “Being able to complete our fast-track MBA program online is certainly an attractive feature for students who are pressured for time with job and family commitments,” he said. “Our curriculum’s emphasis on ethics, practical knowledge and real-world application, is very attractive to employers who highly value those attributes. Communication, economics, finance, global perspectives, leadership, management, marketing, organizational issues, and technology are taught by faculty members who bring a wealth of business experience and academic preparation to the classroom.”

OC’s MBA faculty is especially responsive to online students, Johnson said, returning emails and phone calls quickly.

All students entering the program are issued laptop computers. OC provides technical support, training, and general computing assistance to students (undergrad and graduate) on campus or while remote. Each laptop contains an ethernet card which, when used on campus, provides the student with wireless communication, access to the Internet, and connection to campus printers and database resources

There are three main factors considered for admission to the MBA program, including undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA), Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) score or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score, and professional experience. The MBA program grants admission for the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a federally recognized tribe whose service territory covers 11,000 square miles in 10∏ counties in rural southeast Oklahoma. The Nation, headquartered in Durant, is comprised of more than 200,000 members worldwide and is the third-largest Indian tribe in the United States. The Nation spends an average of $6 million a year in scholarships to assist 5,000 students seeking higher education. The Nation also operates a wide variety of businesses, including retail, manufacturing, ranching and gaming. The Nation employs more than 8,000 people – tribal and non-tribal members alike – and pumps tens of millions of dollars into Oklahoma’s economy.

In late 2006, The Choctaw Nation implemented the Scholarship Advisement Program to provide additional support to college bound tribal members. The Choctaw Nation Scholarship Advisement Program (CNO-SAP) serves more than 6,500 members and focuses on college preparation and retention for Choctaw students ranging from high school students to graduate students. College selection and summer program/internship advice, access to a customized online scholarship database specifically for Choctaw students, Peer Advisors at select Oklahoma campuses, and free college admission test preparation through Princeton Review are just some of the incredible services and opportunities provided by CNO-SAP to its members.  CNO-SAP and OC will be co-hosting an information session in Durant, OK at the Choctaw Community Center on October 25th at 6:00 p.m. The information session is targeted at Choctaw tribal members and Choctaw Nation employees who are interested in pursuing the MBA.  More information on the Choctaw Scholarship Advisement can be found at www.choctawnation-sap.com.

Smith was presented with the award this summer and was also honored with other chapter award winners at the National Speakers Association’s international convention in Anaheim, Calif.

“This is yet another affirmation of Dr. Smith’s energy, intelligence and entrepreneurial spirit,” said Mike O’Neal, president of Oklahoma Christian University. “We continue to be proud of one of OC’s most beloved professors.”

Smith said the real winners are his current and former students because such recognition substantiates him as a practitioner. He also said the award was quite a surprise.

“It is a significant honor,” said Smith. “Receiving an award that has been bestowed upon people in this business I admire really makes it special. To think that my peers would select me for such an award is something I don’t’ take lightly.”

Smith joined the NSA a few years ago, and has served on the board of directors for the past four years. His officer roles in the NSA-OK were encouraged by his college dean and mentor, Dr. Phil Lewis, who recently published his 14th book titled “From The Boardroom to The Whiteboard.”

“Burt is always mindful that what he does on or off campus is with the goal of providing value for our students,” said Lewis. “When he succeeds in the marketplace, it shows our students that what we’re teaching them here works and will pay off for them.”

Smith’s speaking in the marketplace has also resulted in more students being aware of OC’s MBA program.

“We have had students who have heard Burt speak somewhere in the state and decide to come here for their MBA as a result,” said Lewis.

Receiving this award was not the only significant event in Smith’s summer. He also served as the auctioneer at the “Taking Care of Our Own” charity event to raise funds for injured OKC police officer Chad Peery. The event, which was organized by Peery’s captain and a 2011 graduate of OC’s MBA program, Dee Patty, raised more than $155,000. Smith was the 2002 Oklahoma State Champion Auctioneer and has raised over $1.4 million for charities across Oklahoma and Texas.

Smith’s past accomplishments include being the first president to lead the Oklahoma City chapter of the American Marketing Association to a national chapter excellence award. The chapter created the “Dr. Burt Smith Lifetime Achievement Award” in his honor in 2010.

Smith co-founded and now solely owns EMI Research Solutions and has served clients such as Cox Communications, OG&E, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Subway and the Oklahoma City Zoo. He has also served on the board of directors of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and the Sales and Marketing Executives International. He is the author of “The Great Game of Networking” and regularly blogs at www.drBURT.com. Smith teaches management and marketing in the school of business administration’s undergraduate and graduate programs.

The National Speaker’s Association is the professional association for those who earn a fee for speaking. Membership in the NSA must be earned, requiring a specific number of paid speaking engagements within a calendar year.

He was the first Oklahoman to earn the AMA’s Professional Certified Marketer designation. He is one of less than 1,600 professionals worldwide to hold the Sales and Marketing Executive International’s Certified Marketing Executive designation, and he also holds a Certified Quality Manager designation from the American Society for Quality. Smith is the only professional in the world to hold these designations as well as a doctorate.

“We are incredibly honored to add these highly accomplished individuals to our university,” said Oklahoma Christian President Mike O’Neal. “Each of these faculty are dedicated to scholarship and service in the classroom. They will enhance our students’ abilities to positively affect the communities in which they live and work.”

Charles Rix is an assistant professor of Bible and holds a doctorate in Biblical studies from Drew Theological School. He also holds a master’s degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and has multiple Six Sigma certifications. Rix previously served as an associate dean and professor at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. In addition, he is a retired financial executive for Exxon and has served as a minister for 17 years. An accomplished pianist, Rix has performed around the world including St. Petersburg, Russia, and has been a finalist in international pianist competitions in Paris and New York City.

Grant Testut is an assistant professor of Bible. He received his doctorate in comparative semitics from the prestigious Hebrew Union College. He has also taught principles of Bible translation in Africa to Tanzanians, Zimbabwians and Malawians. Testut met his wife in Tanzania while on a mission trip. He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature.

Allison Cassady is an assistant professor of education and a former public school teacher in Texas. She graduates this year with her Ph.D in curriculum and instruction from the University of Texas. Cassady is also a co-founding member of the Consortium for Research in Teacher Education. One of her areas of study is classroom management decision-making skills.

Dan Sorensen is an assistant professor of business who previously taught at Rochester College in Detroit, Mich. He is a doctoral student in the school of business at Anderson University and holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University. Sorensen has more than 20 years of business industry experience working in financial and information technology positions for companies such as Arthur Anderson and Toyota.

Sada Knowles is an instructor in the department of psychology and family studies. She is a doctoral student in Oklahoma State University’s department of human development and family science. An OC graduate, Knowles is a member of both the National and Oklahoma Councils on Family Relations. She is currently studying how family, neighborhood and school factors relate to adaptation in at-risk youth.

Kenneth Bell is an assistant professor of electrical engineering. For the last last 16 years he has been a systems engineer at BAE Systems, a global defense and security company with approximately 100,000 employees worldwide. Bell holds a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Connecticut, and he has also coached high school students in robotics competitions. In addition, Bell has travelled more than 10,000 miles on foot, including the Appalachian Trail twice and the Pacific Crest Trail once. 

Rooney is chairman and controlling shareholder of First National Bank of Oklahoma. He is also extensively involved in the community, serving as president of the Last Frontier Council Boy Scouts of America and chairman of the Oklahoma Student Loan Authority. Rooney also serves as a director for Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the Oklahoma Medical Center Foundation.

He is a trustee for MAPS for Kids, the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation and the Inasmuch Foundation. Rooney is also past chairman of The Education and Employment Ministry. He has degrees in English and economics from Trinity University.

Commencement will include degree candidates from OC’s Fast Track MBA program, along with the Master of Science in Engineering program. For further information regarding the graduation activities, visit this webpage or call 405-425-5200.

“We are honored to be ranked among the best universities in the West region,” said Mike O’Neal, president of Oklahoma Christian. “This is a reflection of the hard work of our dedicated faculty, staff and students.”

For this project, The Princeton Review asked students attending the schools to rate their own colleges on several issues—from the accessibility of their professors to quality of the campus food—and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students and their campus life.

“We’re pleased to recommend Oklahoma Christian to users of our site as one of the best schools to earn their degree,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s publisher. “We chose it mainly for its excellent academic programs. From several hundred schools in each region, we winnowed our list based on institutional data we collected directly from the schools, our visits to schools over the years, and the opinions of our staff, plus college counselors and advisors whose recommendations we invite. 

The Princeton Review also takes into account what students at the schools reported about their campus experiences on an 80-question student survey for this project.  Only schools that permit the group to independently survey their students are eligible to be considered for the regional “Best” lists. 

The 121 colleges that The Princeton Review chose for its “Best in the West” list are located in 15 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Collectively, the 629 colleges named “regional best” constitute about 25 percent of the nation’s 2,500 four-year colleges.

Last year The Princeton Review also named Oklahoma Christian as one of the top 50 undergraduate gaming design programs in the nation. It was the only one in Oklahoma to make the list.

They’re in important professions. They’re doing things they love. But they don’t make the kind of money that makes having three college students easy (if there is such a thing).

The Floyds have had three kids make the short trip from Mesquite, Texas (a Dallas suburb) to Oklahoma Christian. All three were at OC together until Lindsey, the oldest, graduated this year with a degree in psychology. Kalee majors in business and Tyler majors in engineering.

“This is the only school they’ve ever wanted to go to,” Keith said. “It’s a great school. It’s worth it to find a way for them to come here. It really is.”

Lindsey and Kalee became familiar with Oklahoma Christian when the student performing groups New Reign and Summer Singers came to their summer camp. Lindsey visited campus after that … and instantly felt connected.

“I loved it here,” Lindsey said. “The faculty and students were outgoing and friendly, even to people they didn’t know. It was a pleasant atmosphere. Everyone was happy and nice.”

The warm feelings continued after Lindsey became a student. A lot of people she knew from Texas also chose OC. 

Kalee followed her older sister to Oklahoma Christian. The Floyds weren’t sure they could afford for her to attend. But the leap of faith paid off when Kalee made New Reign.

“I was really surprised when I made New Reign, and when I found out how much the scholarship was, I nearly cried. It was such a relief to know that more of my tuition would be covered,” Kalee said. “I truly feel like I am in the group for a reason, because I prayed so much that God would help me find a way to pay for my college. I thank God that He has blessed me to be able to do this, and that I can spread the word about Him in the process.”

OC’s focus on God, in the classroom and beyond, appealed to the Floyds. Keith attended Oklahoma Christian in the early 80s while Beverly went to a state school and never felt the connection to her professors that their children do. 

“Our kids went to a big high school where you see and hear everything. I wanted them to be in a Christian atmosphere so they wouldn’t have to deal with all the stuff they dealt with in high school,” Beverly said. “I love the size of the campus, and I love that the instructors go to the churches they attend. It’s a different world.”

And a world of opportunity. Lindsey also sang with New Reign, and earned other scholarships for her musical ability (she also sang with the Chorale and Chamber Singers) and her ACT score. Tyler was seventh in his high school class, and had many scholarships available to him as he began pursuing his engineering degree at Oklahoma Christian.

It’s all added up to make quality Christian education affordable for a family that wanted their kids to pursue their dreams.

“We are really grateful for OC,” Keith said. “We feel blessed.”

By Wes McKinzie

Williams is co-founder, president and CEO of Extend Health, Inc., in San Mateo, Calif. Last year the company was the 94th fastest-growing, privately held company in the country, according to Inc. magazine. In the last three years, the company’s revenues have grown more than 2,500 percent. Williams has also been named as a semi-finalist for Ernst & Young’s 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

He spoke to OC business students at the School of Business Awards Banquet, where he received his award.

Williams is a graduate of Baylor University and The George Washington University Law School. He joined a health care start-up in 1993, which was later bought by the CVS Caremark family of companies. After working with two more healthcare start-ups, he co-founded Extend Health, which pioneered and built the largest Medicare plan exchange in the country.

According to Williams, the company has saved its 130-plus clients more than $1 billion in the last five years. Extend Health serves all three of major U.S. auto manufacturers. In 1997, the Wall Street Journal estimated that Extend Health saved Ford Motor Company $85 million a year by creating a Medicare exchange for its retirees.

Williams considers himself a native Oklahoman as his mother is from Duncan. He and his wife, Leigh, have two sons, Dawson and Brennon. Dawson is a freshman at Southern Methodist University, and Brennon is a high school sophomore who hopes to study engineering in college.

“The excellence Jerica and Kimberly have demonstrated in their work is reflective of the best of Oklahoma Christian,” said President Mike O’Neal. “We are honored to have such diligent students and faculty that give their best in every endeavor.”

The Institute’s Fellows program honors four to five faculty members from Oklahoma colleges each year for their creative and innovative approaches to complex issues in their fields. Each recipient receives a monetary prize as well as a medallion, which depicts Leonardo DaVinci’s Vitruvian Man.

Merritt’s diverse work caught the attention of the organization. She studies and writes on computer literacy, user satisfaction and curriculum development. Merritt also studies data warehousing, corporate universities and innovative teaching techniques, an area that the Davinci Institute has studied and implemented in its A+ Schools program. Merritt is a member of the International Association for Computer Information Systems and the Great Plains Faculty Development Consortium. In addition, she is an elementary softball coach and a competitive horse rider.

“Dr. Merritt is an outstanding information systems and economics professor and is dedicated to teaching creative thinking to her students,” said Allison Garrett, senior vice president for academic affairs at Oklahoma Christian University. “With many publications and recognition from her peers, her award from the Davinici Institute is very well-deserved.” 

The Davinci Institute also honors 10 graduating teachers in Oklahoma each year as Davinici Scholars, recognizing their use of interdisciplinary instructional methods in the classroom, encouragement of individual learning styles and fostering creativity and critical thought in students. Briggs will receive a $3,000 award in her first year of teaching at any Oklahoma school. She graduates in April and has been a student teacher this year at D.D. Kirkland Elementary and Nichols Hills Elementary.

“Jerica is an incredibly conscientious and hard-working student, and her work impressed the selection committee,” said Robyn Miller, chair and director of teacher education at OC. “She is one of our best and brightest in education, and in the entire university.”

The DaVinci Institute promotes a statewide creative renaissance through lectures, workshops, professional development, research and advocacy. Merritt and Briggs will receive their awards March 25 at the 2011 DaVinci Fellows and Scholars Awards Banquet at the Oklahoma History Center.

Jason Trout, left, is congratulated by Ken Johnson, director of graduate business studies at OC. In December, Jason was OC’s 1,000th MBA graduate.

“We are thrilled to welcome OC’s chapter,” said Sarah Houston, PTPI’s managing director of student programs. “They will make an excellent addition to our university chapter network.”

PTPI’s university chapters are year-round, membership-based organizations, which give college students opportunities to learn leadership skills, gain professional and global experience and to promote peace and understanding on campuses.

“We have plans for future chapter projects, such as a cultural week on campus, a study abroad retreat and an international bake sale, just to name a few,” said the chapter’s advisor, Don Drew, a business professor and dean of graduate programs at OC. “I am looking forward to working with our student president, Jared Scism, on developing new, international opportunities for our students.”

Started in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower, PTPI seeks to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities. It seeks to create peace through understanding by exchanging ideas and experiences among people of different countries and cultures. PTPI has a presence in 135 countries with more than 80,000 participants.

Mellor joined Oklahoma Christian in 2006 as Assistant Professor in the College of
Professional Studies. Soon thereafter, he joined the administration with oversight of
OC’s Academy of Leadership & Liberty. He was named a Vice President for Community
Engagement and a member of the President’s Cabinet in 2008. In 2010, as exceptional
opportunities with Strata and Character First arose, he transitioned to working half time
with OC as Director of Church Relations and Assistant to the President.

Dr. Brian Bush, Executive Director of the Academy of Leadership & Liberty, said about
his friend and mentor: “Dr. Mellor has been instrumental in raising the profile of
Oklahoma Christian and its Academy of Leadership & Liberty. I am forever grateful for
his mentorship, leadership, and friendship. He helped provide a foundation at the
Academy on which we will be able to build for years to come. We wish him the very best
as he continues to impact the world in a positive way through Strata and Character
First.”

During his four and a half years at OC, Mellor has assisted in launching or restoring
numerous programs such as Four Star Debate: Developing Leaders with General Tommy
Franks, Peace Through Business Rwanda, the Libertas Award, and Lighting of the
Commons. He was responsible for bringing to OC the International Energy Policy
Conference and distinguished speakers including former White House Press Secretary
Tony Snow, former Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee, Yale Professor
Dr. Theodore Roosevelt Malloch, Baylor President Kenneth Starr, Entertainer Pat Boone
and business leaders such as S. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, and current
President of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy.

In addition to assisting in raising over $1.5 million for the Heart of America campaign, Mellor
oversaw the demolition of the interior of Enterprise Square in preparation for its future
renovation. Most recently he was responsible for the oversight of the very successful
Quest—the OC Lectures.

Dr. Alan Martin, Dean of the College of Biblical Studies, said, “The Church Relations
Department has been blessed to have Nathan Mellor at its helm (as director) over the
past few months. His planning and visionary abilities will be sorely missed. It is my
prayer that God will continue to use his talents and abilities to bless churches and
communities.”

Mellor holds the Master of Dispute Resolution and the Doctor of Education degrees in
Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University. He earned the Master of
Science in Education and Bachelor of Arts degrees at Harding University. He will
continue teaching Leadership and Ethics courses in OC’s MBA program and will remain
connected to University as a member of the Board of Directors of the Academy of
Leadership & Liberty.

“It was a difficult choice to leave Oklahoma Christian but after a couple months of
prayer and consideration, I believe this is the right course,” Mellor said. “I have been
blessed to be a part of the leadership at OC and am thankful to have been able to work
so closely with leaders such as OC President Mike O’Neal, Dr. Alan Martin, and Dr. Brian
Bush. These are good and godly men and I’m thankful for their friendship. My primary
reason for leaving OC is in response to the opportunities that are presenting themselves
at Strata and specifically through Character First. I’ll always be thankful for my
colleagues at OC and the lifetime friendships that have been forged here.”

“Dr. Mellor is one of the most visionary and valued colleagues at Oklahoma Christian,”
said O’Neal. “His accomplishments in just four and a half years have been
extraordinary, and OC has been so blessed to have him on our team. I will always count
Nathan as a great friend and trusted advisor, and I look forward to partnering with him
in his leadership of Character First and Strata Leadership, whose purposes are very
consistent with the goals and mission of OC.”

Character First emphasizes character in organizations in order to build better communities and workplace. First applied at Kimray in 1992, the company’s worker’s compensation costs decreased 80 percent, and it experienced a 25 percent increase in profits in less than two years.

The one-hour film will be screened Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Garvey Center on campus. A reception will be held at 6 p.m.